Letters | 3 ways Hong Kong can better prepare for intense storms

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The frequency and intensity of tropical storms exposes the vulnerability of coastal cities in their path. This week’s “black” rainstorm flooded low-lying areas in Hong Kong, triggering landslides and causing traffic shutdowns. Some neighbourhoods truly looked like disaster zones, with debris and fallen trees piling up in the streets.

A series of epic storms have brought communities to their knees in China, Greece and the United States. Acknowledging this new climatic pattern, government officials and real estate developers should not plan to build luxurious flats and shopping malls in vulnerable flood zones.

Second, effective planning across regional governments is of great importance in risk management. Hong Kong used to be resilient to typhoons and storms thanks to many decades of investment in underground drainage systems. But the extreme floods in Hong Kong and Shenzhen have unmasked the flaws in their respective infrastructure.